Communication connecting method, communication connecting device and storage medium with program stored therein

ABSTRACT

A user is prompted to turn on power supply of a device to be connected with a screen. When it is detected that the power supply is turned on, the screen is displayed for confirming a user whether the device whose power supply is turned on should be connected or not. Thus, connection is carried out. With such a method, a communication connection method capable of selecting a device to be connected reliably is provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an operating system for operating anoperated terminal by using an operating terminal and, more particularly,a video device operating system for operating a video device by using amobile terminal.

BACKGROUND ART

As the background art, the navigation system for displaying a navigationscreen and an operation screen on a display in a split mode when arear-sheet remote controller is operated, and then transferring theoperation screen in response to an operation made by the rear-sheetremote controller is known (see Patent Literature 1, for example).

Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2003-231427 (see paragraphs [0040], [0041],[0061] and [0061] and [FIG. 6])

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems that the Invention is to Solve

In the navigation system set forth in Patent Literature 1, thenavigation screen is displayed small when the rear-sheet remotecontroller is operated. Therefore, information about the navigation isnot sufficiently transmitted to the persons except the operator.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the aboveproblem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide anoperating system whose operating screen does not interfere with otherscreens even while this system is operated.

Means for Solving the Problems

An operating system of the present invention includes an operatingterminal for outputting operation data corresponding to an operation;and an operated terminal for executing a process corresponding to theoperation data being output from the operating terminal; wherein theoperated terminal includes a control portion controlling a communicatingportion to output transition data in response to an input of theoperation data output from the operating terminal, the transition datais used to transfer an operation screen on a displaying portion of theoperating terminal, and the operating terminal includes a displaycontrol portion transferring the operation screen on the displayingportion in response to the transition data from the operated terminal.

The interpretation of wordings in Claims will be given as follows. The“operation data corresponding to an operation” means data that is outputwhen the operation is executed and controls the operated terminal toperform a particular process.

The “operating terminal” means a terminal that is able to conduct atwo-way communication and includes a displaying portion. It ispreferable that the two-way communication should be realized by thetwo-way radio communication system. For example, there are a remotecontroller, a cellular phone (containing PHS), a personal computer(containing PDA), and the like.

The “operated terminal” means a video device that is able to conduct atwo-way communication. It does not matter whether the device is providedto the inside of the vehicle or not. For example, there are a navigationsystem, a television receiver set, and the like.

The “operation screen” is an image that is shown in response to anoperating situation. For example, there are a menu screen shown prior tothe operation and a check screen shown after the operation, and thelike.

The “displaying portion” means a surface that displays the video image.

The “transfer” means an operation that shifts from one state to theother state. For example, there are an operation that transfers from amenu screen to an operating checking screen, and the like.

The “transition data that is used to transfer an operation screen on adisplaying portion of the operating terminal” is a concept that containsthat the process corresponding to the operation data from the operatingterminal is executed in the operated terminal or the data that is usedto cause the operating terminal to identify that the same process hasbeen executed in the operated terminal.

The “in response to the input” means that the input constitutes thecondition. For example, there are a condition that signifies“simultaneously with the input”, a condition that signifies “after apredetermined time has elapsed since the input”, and the like.

In the present invention, the control portion controls a communicationportion to output image data corresponding to the operation screen of atransition destination, with the transition data.

The interpretation of wordings in Claim will be given as follows. The“operation screen of a transition destination” means the other operatingscreen when the operation screen is transferred from one operationscreen to the other operation screen.

In the present invention, the control portion controls whether or not toexecute a process corresponding to the operation data from the operatingterminal in response to terminal identification data from the operatingterminal.

The interpretation of wordings in Claim will be given as follows. The“terminal identification data” means the data that is used to identifythe operating terminal that outputted the operation data.

In the present invention, the control portion controls the communicatingportion to output the transition data which differs according toterminal identification data from the operation terminal, whereby thetransition destination differs according to the operation terminal.

The interpretation of wordings in Claim will be given as follows. The“to differentiate a transition destination from one operation screenevery operating terminal” means that the other operation screen isdifferentiated every operating terminal when one operation screen istransferred to the other operation screen. It is preferable that thedata that correlates the transition destination from one operationscreen with the operating terminal should be employed.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided the controlportion that controls the communicating portion to output the transitiondata, which is used to transfer the operation screen on the displayingportion of the operating terminal, in response to the input of theoperation data being output from the operating terminal. Therefore, thepresent invention is capable of providing the operating system whoseoperating screen does not interfere with other screens even this systemis in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A schematic view showing an outline of a video device operatingsystem as a best mode for carrying out the present invention.

FIG. 2 A block diagram showing a configuration of the video deviceoperating system as the best mode for carrying out the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 A flowchart showing an operation of the video device operatingsystem in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4( a) is a view showing a display example of an applicationselecting screen in a cellular phone, FIG. 4( b) is a view showing adisplay example of an application starting screen in the cellular phone,FIG. 4( c) is a view showing a display example of an operation menuselecting screen in the cellular phone, FIG. 4( d) is a view showing adisplay example of a route guiding menu selecting screen in the cellularphone, FIG. 4( e) is a view showing a display example of a displaysetting menu selecting screen in the cellular phone, FIG. 4( f) is aview showing a display example of a facility display menu selectingscreen in the cellular phone, FIG. 4( g) is a view showing a displayexample of a convenience store display menu selecting screen in thecellular phone, and FIG. 4( h) is a view showing a display example of anoperation completion screen in the cellular phone.

FIG. 5 A view showing data formats of operation data and transition datain the present embodiment.

FIG. 6( a) is a view showing a display example of a display of thenavigation system that is in operation by the cellular phone, and FIG.6( b) is a view showing a display example of the display of thenavigation system after the operation by the cellular phone iscompleted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 video device operating system (operating system)-   2 cellular phone (operation terminal)-   3 navigation system (operated terminal)-   13 ROM (display control portion)-   14 CPU (display control portion)-   24 display (displaying portion)-   31 CCU (communicating portion)-   32 ROM (control portion)-   33 CPU (control portion)

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A best mode for carrying out a video device operating system accordingto the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 toFIG. 6 hereinafter.

<About Overall Configuration>

A configuration of a video device operating system 1 according to thepresent invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2hereunder. As shown in FIG. 1, a video device operating system 1(corresponding to an “operating system”) includes a cellular phone 2(corresponding to an “operation terminal”) that can conduct the two-wayradio communication and a navigation system 3 (corresponding to an“operated terminal”) that can conduct the two-way radio communicationwith the cellular phone 2. In the present embodiment, as a two-way radiocommunication system, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) systemutilizing a 2.4 GHz band is employed.

<About Configuration of Cellular Phone 2>

As shown in FIG. 2, the cellular phone 2 includes a first CCU 11 forcontrolling the communication with the navigation system 3, a second CCU12 for controlling the communication with a public network, a ROM 13(corresponding to a “display control portion”) for storing variousprograms, a CPU 14 (corresponding to a “display control portion”) forexecuting the program stored in the ROM 13, a RAM 15 for holding variousdata, and an input/output IF 16 interposed between the RAM 15 andvarious peripheral equipments to input/output the data. These devicesare connected mutually via the bus.

In addition to the phone talking program for carrying out the phonetalking process, the navigation operating program for outputting theoperation data that controls the navigation system 3 to execute aparticular operation (referred to as a “navigation-operation”hereinafter) is stored in the ROM 13. The navigation-operation may beacquired from the navigation system 3 via the first CCU 11, or may beacquired from the server on the public network via the second CCU 12.Also, various data constituting the operation data, image datacorresponding to an operation screen, and others are stored in the ROM13.

In the input/output IF 16, a microphone 21 and an operating switch 22are connected to the input side, and the data fed from these devices areinput into the RAM 15. In contrast, a speaker 23 and a display 24(corresponding to a “displaying portion”) are connected to the outputside, and the data fed from the CPU 14, and the like are output to thespeaker 23 and the display 24.

<About Configuration of Navigation System 3>

As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation system 3 includes a CCU 31(corresponding to a “communicating portion”) for controlling thecommunication with the cellular phone 2, a ROM 32 (corresponding to a“control portion”) for storing various programs, a CPU 33 (correspondingto a “control portion”) for executing the program stored in the ROM 32,a RAM 34 for holding various data, an input/output IF 35 interposedbetween the RAM 34 and various peripheral equipments to input/output thedata, and a HDD 36 for storing various data. These devices are connectedmutually via the bus.

In addition to the navigation program for executing the navigationprogram that corresponds to the operation data fed from the cellularphone 2, a transition program for outputting the transition data inresponse to the operation data is stored in the ROM 32.

In the input/output IF 35, an azimuth sensor 41, a speed sensor 42, aGPS receiver 43, and an operating switch 44 are connected to the inputside. The data from these devices are input into the RAM 35. On thecontrary, a speaker 45 and a display 46 are connected to the outputside. The data fed from the CPU 34, and the like are output to thespeaker 45 and the display 46.

<About Operation>

An operation of the video device operating system 1 constructed as abovewill be explained with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 hereunder. As shownin FIG. 3, while the CPU 14 interprets respective programs stored in theROM 13 in the cellular phone 2 and the CPU 33 interprets respectiveprograms stored in the ROM 32 in the navigation system 3, followingprocesses are executed.

In the cellular phone 2, the CPU 14 starts the navigation-operationprogram in response to the user's starting instruction given by theoperating switch 22 (step S1). At this time, it is preferable that an “@Appli” screen (see FIG. 4( a)) should be switched to a “An applicationis starting up” screen (see FIG. 4( b)) on the display 24. Also, thedata for causing the CPU 14 to discriminate the navigation system 3 isthe navigation system 3 may be registered in advance, and then thestarting process may be executed under the condition that the cellularphone 2 received this data from the navigation system 3.

When the start of the navigation-operation program is completed, the CPU14 controls the display 24 to display a menu screen (step S2). At thistime, an “Operation menu” is displayed as an operation screen on thedisplay 24 (see FIG. 4( c)), and the user selects the menu by theoperating switch 22 (P1). In the present embodiment, a followingexplanation will be made on the assumption that “Route guide” isselected.

When the route guide is selected, the CPU 14 controls the first CCU 11to output the operation data responding to the user's operation (stepS3). Here, the operation data is the data that is constructed bycombining together various data stored in the ROM 13. As shown in FIG.5, “Header data” used to cause the destination computer to identify thatthe transmitted data is the operation data, “Terminal identificationdata” used to cause the destination computer to identify the sender,“Synchronization data” used to cause the destination computer toidentify a navigation-operation state of the sender, and “Menu ID data”used to cause the destination computer to identify a menu that has beenselected by the sender are contained in the operation data. In step S3,in the operation data, the data used to cause the CPU 33 of thenavigation system 3 to identify that the navigation-operation is startedin the cellular phone 2 is contained as the synchronization data, andthe data used to cause the CPU 33 of the navigation system 3 to identifythat the selected menu is the route guide is contained as the menu IDdata.

When the operation data is output from the cellular phone 2, the CPU 33of the navigation system 3 controls the input/output IF 35 to input theoperation data received by the CCU 31 into the RAM 34 (step S4). At thistime, since the synchronization data indicates that thenavigation-operation is started in the cellular phone 2, the process formaking the operation data sent from cellular phones except the cellularphone 2 ineffective is executed by using the terminal identificationdata. Also, even though the operation data is input, the display 46 doesnot display the operation screen corresponding to the menu ID data butdisplays the navigation screen as it is (see FIG. 6( a)).

When the operation data is input, the CPU 33 outputs the transition datato the CCU 31 (step S5). Here, the transition data is constructed bycombining various data stored in the HDD 36. As shown in FIG. 5, “Headerdata” used to cause the destination computer to identify that thetransmitted data is the transition data, “Terminal identification data”used to cause the computer to identify the sender, and “Synchronizationdata” used to cause the destination computer to identify anavigation-operation state to be set in the destination are contained inthe transition data. In step S5, the data used to cause the CPU 14 ofthe cellular phone 2 to identify that the navigation-operation is to becontinued in the cellular phone 2 is contained in the transition data asthe synchronization data.

When the transition data is output from the navigation system 3, the CPU14 of the cellular phone 2 controls the input/output IF 16 to input thetransition data received by the first CCU 11 into the RAM 15 (step S6).

When the transition data is input, the CPU 14 controls the display 24 todisplay the operation screen corresponding to the transition data (stepS7). In step S6, since the data used to cause the CPU 14 of the cellularphone 2 to identify that the navigation-operation is to be continued inthe cellular phone 2 is input as the synchronization data, “Routeguiding menu” is displayed on the display 24 as the operation screen ofthe transition destination (see FIG. 4( d)), and the user selects a menuby the operating switch 22 (P2). In the present embodiment, theprocesses similar to those from step S3 to step S7 are repeated, and theoperation screen is shifted in order of “Route guiding menu” (see FIG.4( d)), “Display setting menu” (see FIG. 4( e)), “Facility display menu”(see FIG. 4( f)), and “Convenience store display” (see FIG. 4( g)). Inthe following, an explanation is given on the assumption that“Effective” of “Convenience store display” is selected finally.

When “Effective” is selected from “Convenience store display”, the CPU14 controls the first CCU 11 to output the operation data correspondingto the user's operation (step S8). At this time, in the operation data,the data used to cause the CPU 33 of the navigation system 3 to identifythat the navigation-operation is to be ended in the cellular phone 2 iscontained as the synchronization data, and the data to cause the CPU 33of the navigation system 3 to identify that the selected menu is“Effective” of “Convenience store display” is contained as the menu IDdata.

When the operation data is output from the cellular phone 2, the CPU 33of the navigation system 3 controls the input/output IF 35 to input theoperation data received by the CCU 31 into the RAM 34 (step S9). At thistime, since the synchronization data indicates that thenavigation-operation is ended in the cellular phone 2, the process formaking the operation data from cellular phones except the cellular phone2 effective is executed by using the terminal identification data.

When the operation data is input, the CPU 33 executes the processcorresponding to the operation data (step S10). In the presentembodiment, since the menu ID data contained in the operation dataindicates that “Convenience store display” is effective, the CPU 33controls the display 46 to display “CVS” as a convenience store marktogether with the navigation screen (see FIG. 6( b)).

When the process corresponding to the operation data is executed, theCPU 33 controls the CCU 31 to output the transition data (step S11). Inthe transition data, the data used to cause the CPU 14 of the cellularphone 2 to identify that the navigation-operation is to be completed inthe cellular phone 2 is contained as the synchronization data.

When the transition data is output from the navigation system 3, the CPU14 of the cellular phone 2 controls the input/output IF 16 to input thetransition data received by the first CCU 11 into the PAM 15 (step S12).

When the transition data is input, the CPU 14 controls the display 24 todisplay the operation screen corresponding to the transition data (stepS13). In step S12, since the data used to cause the CPU 14 of thecellular phone 2 to identify that the navigation-operation is to beended in the cellular phone 2 is input as the synchronization data, “Theoperation has been completed” is displayed on the display 24 as theoperation screen of the transition destination (see FIG. 4( h)).

ADVANTAGE OF PRESENT EMBODIMENT

According to the present embodiment mentioned above, the cellular phone2 transfers/displays the operation screen on the display 24 in responseto the transition data from the navigation system 3. Therefore, it isunnecessary for the navigation system 3 to the operation screen inoperation on the display 46, and the operation screen never interfereswith other screens even in operation. In other words, it is feasible totransfer sufficiently the navigation information the persons except theoperator while the operator is operating the operation screen.

<Variation>

In the above explanation, the image data corresponding to the operationscreen is stored in the ROM 13. But other embodiments may be employed.For example, the navigation system 3 may read the image data from theHDD 36 and output this image data together with the transition data.Also, the cellular phone 2, when received the transition data, mayacquire the image data from the server on the public network. Accordingto these embodiments, the cellular phone 2 has only to hold adequatelythe necessary image data in the RAM 15. Therefore, there is no need toprovide the memory medium, which always stores the image datacorresponding to all operation screens, in the cellular phone 2.

In the above explanation, the operation screen is transferred in orderof “Route guiding menu” (see FIG. 4( d)), “Display setting menu” (seeFIG. 4( e)), “Facility display menu” (see FIG. 4( f)), and “Conveniencestore display menu” (see FIG. 4( g)). But the operation screen may bedirectly transferred from “Route guiding menu” (see FIG. 4( d)) to“Convenience store display menu” (see FIG. 4( g)). Concretely, thenavigation system 3 stores a correspondence between the transition datahaving the convenience store display as the operation screen of thetransition destination and the terminal identification data indicatingthe cellular phone 2 in the HDD 36. Then, when the navigation system 3receives the synchronization data indicating an operation starting statefrom the cellular phone 2, this navigation system outputs the transitiondata having the convenience store display as the operation screen of thetransition destination. According to this embodiment, it can bedifferentiated every cellular phone whether or not the intermediateoperations should be omitted. Also, the operation to be allowed can bedifferentiated every cellular phone.

The present invention is explained in detail with reference to theparticular embodiment. But it is obvious for those skilled in the artthat various variations and modifications can be applied withoutdeparting from a spirit and a scope of the present invention.

This application is based upon Japanese Patent Application (PatentApplication No. 2005-060135) filed on Mar. 4, 2005; the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the operating system according to the presentinvention possesses such an advantage that the operation screen neverinterferes with other screens even while the user is operating theoperation screen, and is useful to the video device operating systemthat operates the video device by using the mobile terminal, and thelike.

1. A communication connection device, comprising: a communication unitfor receiving information showing a state of an other communicationconnection device by communication; a state change monitoring unit formonitoring a change of the state of the other communication connectiondevice by taking in the information from the communication unit; a statechange drawing unit for drawing the change of the state of the othercommunication connection device based on the information from the statechange monitoring unit; and an input unit for determining that the othercommunication connection device is a communication connection device tobe connected based on a result of confirming the information in thestate change monitoring unit.
 2. The communication connection device ofclaim 1, wherein the state change monitoring unit takes in operationinformation of the other communication connection device.
 3. Thecommunication connection device of claim 2, wherein the operationinformation is on-off operation information of power supply.
 4. Thecommunication connection device of claim 2, wherein the state changemonitoring unit determines the state of the other communicationconnection device by a plurality of times of the operation information.5. The communication connection device of claim 2, wherein the statechange monitoring unit determines the state of the other communicationconnection device from on-off operation information of a connectionconfirmation button of the other communication connection device.
 6. Thecommunication connection device of claim 2, wherein the state changedrawing unit draws a screen for prompting for an operation of the othercommunication connection device to be connected.
 7. The communicationconnection device of claim 6, wherein the operation of the othercommunication connection device is an operation of turning on or offpower supply.
 8. The communication connection device of claim 6, whereinthe operation of the other communication connection device is pushing areproducing button or a determination button.
 9. The communicationconnection device of claim 2, wherein the state change drawing unitdraws a screen for confirming whether the other communication connectiondevice detected by the state change monitoring unit is a communicationconnection device to be connected.
 10. The communication connectiondevice of claim 9, wherein the state change drawing unit displays thecommunication connection device to be connected with hidden letters. 11.The communication connection device of claim 10, wherein the statechange drawing unit displays hidden letters and the hidden letterschange based on the change of the state of the other communicationconnection device.
 12. The communication connection device of claim 2,wherein the communication unit performs connection to the communicationconnection device to be connected, when the device is determined to bethe communication connection device to be connected in the input unit.13. The communication connection device of claim 2, wherein thecommunication between the communication connection devices is carriedout via wireless communication.
 14. The communication connection deviceof claim 2, wherein the communication between the communicationconnection devices is carried out via CEC (Consumer Electronics Control)of HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface).
 15. A communicationconnection method comprising: prompting a user to operate a device to beconnected; selecting the operated device among existing detectabledevices; confirming a user whether the selected device is a device to beconnected; and allowing the selected device to be connected.
 16. Thecommunication connection method of claim 15, wherein the operation is anon-off operation of power supply.
 17. The communication connectionmethod of claim 15, wherein the operation is an on-off operation of aconnection determination button of a communication connection device.18. The communication connection method of claim 15, wherein theprompting a user to operate a device to be connected is drawing a screenfor prompting for an operation of the other communication connectiondevice to be connected.
 19. The communication connection method of claim15, wherein the confirming a user whether the selected device is adevice to be connected is drawing a screen for confirming whether thedevice is a communication connection device to be connected.
 20. Astorage medium storing a computer program for realizing thecommunication connection method of claim 15.